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A Dictionary of the Older Scottish Tongue (up to 1700)

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First published 1971 (DOST Vol. IV).
This entry has not been updated since then but may contain minor corrections and revisions.

Multitud(e, n. Also: multytud(e, multietud, mulltitud, moltitude. [ME. (a 1325) and e.m.E. multitude, OF. multitude, L. multitūdo.]

1. Multitude, numerousness, great number, also, plurality; a multitude, a host, a company, a crowd, a large number, of people, animals or things.In reference to a. persons, b. cattle or stock, c. other animals, and d. things.a. (1) 1375 Barb. ii. 330.
For multitud mais na victory Ib. xi. 479.
The multitude and the bewte Of thair fais that comme so braid c1420 Wynt. iv. 819.
For thai war off sic multitude And swa thyk togyddyr stude c1460 Wisd. Sol. (S.T.S.) 439. c1450-2 Howlat 237. 1456 Hay II. 34/20.
For knychthede takis na hede to multitude bot to noblesse of chevalrye c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 3660.
That na man micht the multitude reheris That thare was slane Ib. 1613. 1469 Acts II. 95/1.
Throw multitud & clamor of commonis sympil personis 1490 Irland Mir. I. 58/9. c1510 Prester John 311.
Thai ar sa mony thai may nocht be numerit nor tald for multitud 1513 Doug. ii. vii. 110.
By multitude and nowmyr apon ws set All ȝeid to wraik 1531 Bell. Boece (M) I. 35.
Becaus multitude of capitanis is sedicious a1538 Abell 92 b.
The Cwmenis in this tyme excellit in riches & multitud 1559 St. A. Kirk S. .
The inlayk of almos and multitud of misterfull to be helpit 1573 Davidson Sat. P. xlii. 326.
The laik of multitude To serve into the ministrie 1600 Glasgow Wrights 42.
To eschew pluralitie and multitude quhilk generis confusion 1670 Kirk in Il Cappellano delle Fate 27.
If the peopl in Balquhidder be poor now, their moltitude & honesty occasiond it(2) 1375 Barb. ix. 486.
He neuir had none abasing Of multitude of men c1460 Alex. (Taym.) 2523. 1471 Acta Aud. 22/1.
With multitude of men of armys 1476 Ib. 42/1.
Quhen maist multitude of folk ar present c1500-c1512 Dunb. Tua Mar. W. 73.
To manifest my makdome to muititude of pepill(3) a1400 Leg. S. ii. 412.
For-thy Gret multitud gadderit in hy 1456 Hay II. 55/14.
For sa grete multitude mycht nocht be governyt togedir a1500 Lanc. 1146.
And oft he haith remembrit in his thoght What multitud that Galiot had broght 1528 Lynd. Dreme 579. 1535 Stewart 24481.
Sic multitude ocht lang fra hame to byde(4) c1420 Wynt. ix. 3141.
Off gret pupill the multitude On ilke sid that thare by stud Commendyt heily his affere 1456 Hay I. 57/21.
Nane coud nombre the grete multitude 1533 Boece x. iv. 355.
The remanent multitude reuerendly kissing the relikis 1535 Stewart 25374.
Richt mony wes into that multitude Apprevit weill a1538 Abell 13 a.
Of all this multitude within ane hundreth ȝere neuir ane wilbe lewand 1581 King's Confession in Dickinson Source-bk. III. 34.
We … refuse … his … multitude of advocattis or mediatoreis 1582 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 251.
The said multitude had … boistit the said baillie 1600-1610 Melvill 248.
A heare brak out amangs the multitude 1662 Crim. Trials III. 610.
He wold lye with ws in presence of all the multitud(5) 1490 Irland Mir. MS. 341.
A gret multitud and nowmer of pepile without ordinaunce and obedians are lik a multitud of scheip without ane hyrd 1513 Doug. ii. ii. 12.
On ather part hym to behald atanys Fast flokkis about a multitude ȝong Troianys 1517 Irons Leith I. 589.
And with him ane multitud of his nychtburis and men of Leith 1531 Bell. Boece II. 138.
Ane multitude of young childrin weill institute in letteris a1578 Pitsc. I. 146/28.
Mulltitud 1583 Pittenweem Ann. 8.
And for providing that ane multitude and many thousand puir souls, as we ar, be nocht depauperit 1588 Edinb. B. Rec. IV. 529.
This toun is replenist with ane multitude of vnfrie persouns 1598 Aberd. B. Rec. II. 167. c1650 Spalding I. 90.
Scho is convoyit with mvltitudes of people in magnifick honorabill maner(6) a1400 Leg. S. vii. 831.
A multytud thare gadderit wes c1500 Fyve Bestes 89.
Ane multitud innomerable 1535 Stewart 7065.
Ane multitude alway na victor mais 1537 Lynd. Depl. Magd. 168.
In presence of ane myrthfull multitude [: Holy rude] c1552 Id. Mon. 3961. a1578 Pitsc. I. 365/14.
Quhilk was sic ane great multietud on baitht the sydis that [etc.] c 1664 Argyll-Lauderdale Lett. App. 108.
Haveing a multitude to doe with … and that a kitle multitudeb. c1400 Troy-bk. ii. 418.
The multytud of bestes sleyn 1470 Prestwick B. Rec. 15.
That … novdir ane no other man no weman … hald cokkis na capounis at mvltitud 1531 Acta Conc. MS. XLIII. 130.
Becaus of the multitude of cattale quhilk passis … in to Ingland 1533 Boece vii. vi. 231 b.
Becaus it haboundit in multitude of flokkis and store 1549 Banff Ann. I. 24.
Having of multitud of gudes vpoun the commone pastoringc. a1400 Leg. S. xi. 299.
Of serpentis a multytuded. c1420 Wynt. vii. 3273.
He Arrywyd wyth a gret multitud Off schyppys wyth topcastellys gud a1500 Henr. Fab. 96 (Makc.).
Off iaspis a mekill multitud 1504 Edinb. B. Rec. I. 98.
For the eschewing of greit multitude of pleyis 1533 Boece iv. x. 141.
Ane multitude of arrowis and ganeȝeis apoun Romanis war schott Arundel MS. 254/460.
Here I Thé pray Thow tak na tent to the multytude of my synnes, bot to the gretnes of Thy mercy c1590 Fowler II. 122/37.
They wer never many that … with ma multitud of aiths promeis it then he 1597 Skene Verb. S. s.v. Feodum.
For the multitude of denuntiations included in ane signatour of escheit or life-rent

Also e. great amount or extent of anything. c1460 Wisd. Sol. (S.T.S.) 74.
With hyrdis of catell and multitud of corne 1533 Bell. Livy I. 136/2.
Be aventure was growand for the tyme ane grete multitude of quhet on the said croft Arundel MS. 251/385.
Efter the gret aboundance and multitude of Thi inestimabill mangnificience a1568 Scott xxxvi. 5. 1567 G. Ball. 120. 1664 Cramond Kirk S. II. 28 Dec.
Because he could not possiblye win againe throw the throng and multitude of his masters business

2. a. ‘The many’, the people as a whole, the common people. 1535 Stewart 58806.
And all the nobillis … war keild, And infinyte als of the multitude War slane that da a1538 Abell 119 a.
And thai all bot I hes lerit the ledis of the land diuers and prechis to thame & instrukkis the multitude of pepill 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 159/23.
For Christ in the latter supper commwnicate to the multitude

b. ‘The many-headed’, the, or a, mob. 1558-66 Knox II. 155.
Bot the raschall multitude, enflambit be some ungodlie craftismen, maid insurrectioun 1618 Crim. Trials III. 451.
Sic ane vnproffitable and pernitious multitude and filthie aff-scoureingis of people 1639 Charles I Declar. Tumults 37.
The barbarous multitude run most inragedly upon them

3. A varied or diverse body; a more or less numerous group. 1549 Compl. 11/15.
In ilk comunite ther is ane multitude and ilk ane hes sum part of vertu of diuerse degreis 1562-3 Winȝet I. 42/19.
Quhair find ȝe euer ony of the apostlis writting to the Romanis, Corinthianis or ony vther multitude?

b. A plurality, more than one person. 1577 Reg. Privy C. II.645.
To the effect that the saidis awnaris sould not have ane multitude to crave for the said sowme

c. ? The majority. d. ? Number, precise sum or aggregate of the units in question.c. c1420 Wynt. iv. 1980.
Off fre men ay the multitude Sall set thame for till eyk the guded. 1561 Q. Kennedy Compendious Ressonyng (ed.) 160/15.
He appoinctit nolder tyme, place nor multitude that suid communicate